How to Use a Framing Square
A framing square is a tool that all do-it-yourself carpenters and woodmakers should half. It’s made of steel or lightweight aluminum, with two-inch arm called a blade and a 1 1/2 inch narrow arm called the tongue. A framing square is used for projects that require square or even angled cuts like stairs and rafters. Here’s how you can use it.
If you want a framing square to withstand the test of time, go for the light aluminum types. They may be more expensive at $30, but many claim that they are reliable and worth it.
Let’s take a deeper look into the parts of a framing square. The body itself is a 2″ wide with a 2″ long blade. I’s used to measure the horizontal cuts.
framing square
The tongue is 1″1/3 wide with a 16″ long blade, which is used to mark the the vertical cuts.
Body and tongue intersect at the outside edge of the square, also known as the heel. There is also a front and back side of the framing square.
Let’s start by proposing a theoretical project, say, a flight of stairs. Before you get started, you need to determine how high you want all the steps should be. Put the framing square on the edge of a 2×12, marking the left side for the rise, and marking the right side for the run. The rise is the height of the step, the run is the width of the step.
You can use the framing square for cutting your roof rafters. Use the top edge of the square and mark the L-shape on the board. Move up the framing square so that it rests on top of the first L-shape you made. Continue doing this until you have a length of L-shapes on the 2×12. This can also be used for your stair stringer.
You can use a calculator to help you determine the correct measurements for the run, pitch, layout rafter and test. You can perform all the measurements using the top edge of the framing square.